摘要:
Based on perlolyrine (1), a natural alkaloid with weak PDE5 potency from the traditional Chinese aphrodisiac plant Tribulus terrestris L., a series alpha-substituted tetrahydro-beta-carboline (TH beta C) derivatives were synthesized via T(+)BF4(-)-mediated oxidative C-H functionalization of N-aryl TH beta Cs with diverse potassium trifluoroborates. Following Winterfeldt oxidation afforded the corresponding furyl/thienyl pyrroloquinolones, of which 5-ethylthiophene/ethylfuran derivatives 20a-b were identified as the most potent and selective PDE5 inhibitors. Among the enantiomers, (S)-20a and (S)-20b (IC50 = 0.52 and 0.39 nM) were found to be more effective than their (R)-antipode, display favorable pharmacokinetic profiles, exert in vitro vasorelaxant effects on the isolated thoracic aorta, and exhibit in vivo efficacy in the anesthetized rabbit erectile model. (C) 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.